But Vertic is there to help reassure outsiders that the work is being done scrupulously by both sides.

ECONOMIST: The new nuclear pioneers

For the past 18 months AWE has co-operated with non-nuclear Norway and a London-based NGO, the Verification Research, Training and Information Centre (Vertic), on techniques for verifying that when a country promises to cut weapons, it really does.

ECONOMIST: The new nuclear pioneers